Healthy, wholesome and affordable cooking for the heart and soul………….

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Plantains

Music and food kind of go hand in hand in our house. Growing up, my parents could not have a backyard summer barbecue without the sounds of classic Motown hits playing in the background. It was always Good Music, Good Food, Good People ……all in one place. that was the rule in our house and it still is.

And that is how I am feeling about this song”Havana” right now.

If you haven’t heard the song Havana by now….then you have been living under a rock….literally.

Camila is the eponymous debut studio album by Cuban-American singer Camila Cabello, formerly of the singing group Fifth Harmony. It was released on January 12, 2018, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200. While the album is primarily contemporary pop, it incorporates elements of Latin music and R&B. Featuring the hit “Havana“, which has topped charts in territories such as Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

And for me, the sultry sounds of “Havana” evokes memories of Cuba, 1950s cars, old dramatic buildings and of course the food, with its blend of Indigenous, African and European cultures that make it authentically ‘Cuban”.

The perfect marriage of music and food with a Cuban themed dinner party.

Make sure you have “Havana” as well as hits by Celicia Cruz and the Buena Vista Social Club playing in the background to set the mood for your party.

Set the table with colorful eclectic dishes with a mix of modern and old world charm.

Photo Credit: Williams Sonoma, 2017

Color-blocked linens inspired by the city’s famous cement tiles recall the colorful streets of Havana and add a festive touch to the table.

Start off with the meal with a chicken soupmade with plantain dumplings, followed by an easy one-pot braised chicken fricassee that is paired with rice and black beans(traditionally known as Cristanos y Marranos)—a Cuban staple—and crispy fried plantains for a dinner menu that evokes a Caribbean getaway.

And last but not least, a caramel flan, as popular in Cuba as it is in Spain, makes a sweet ending to the meal.

Photo Credit: Williams Sonoma, 2017

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